Connecting member for metal form structures



Dec. 3, 1968 R. L. JENNINGS 3,

CONNECTING MEMBER FOR METAL FORM STRUCTURES Filed May 18, 1966 /9 7 3 /3Mnwmroe A 01 PH 1. JIVAMVG$ Arrow/ United States Patent 3,414,228CONNECTING MEMBER FOR METAL FORM STRUCTURES Ralph L. Jennings, DesMoines, Iowa, assignor to Economy Forms Corporation, Des Moines, Iowa, acorporation of Iowa Filed May 18, 1966, Ser. No. 550,972 4 Claims. (Cl.249-18) This invention relates generally to a metal concrete formassembly and in particular to a connecting member for releasablyconnecting together adjacent forms in the assembly.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved connecting memberfor releasably securing together adjacent metal concrete forms.

A further object of this invention is to provide a metal concrete formassembly wherein connecting members on a pair of relatively spaced formsare releasably connectable with an intermediate form such that the threemetal forms are connected together to form a continuous uniplanarsurface.

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoring structure for supporting ametal form assembly which embodies the connecting members of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a plurality of the shoring structures inFIG. 1 connected together to form a continuous supporting surface;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 3-3 in FIG. 2 showing aform connecting member; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a form connecting member.

With reference to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a shoring structure shownin operative association with a form assembly 11 comprised of a pair oftransversely spaced longitudinally extended or side metal forms 12 andintermediate forms 13. The shoring structure 10 comprises a knock-downframe unit 14 which has four corner posts 16 connected together by meansincluding upper and lower connecting frames 17 and 18, respectively, ofa like construction and releasably connected in like manner with theposts 16. Each post 16 has a flat top surface 19.

-A side form 12 (FIG. 3) is of an inverted channel shape in transversecross section so as to have a top fiat surface 21 with depending sideflanges 22. Each intermediate form 13 includes a base or flat platemember 23 of a rectangular shape (FIG. 2) having depending side and endflanges 24 and 26, respectively, as shown best in FIG.

'3. A form 13 (FIG. 2) is of a length equal to the transverse spacebetween the longitudinally extended forms 12 to which it is connected bythe connecting members 27 of this invention so that the top surface 23is in the 'horizontal plane of the top surfaces 21 of the side forms 12to provide a flat continuous supporting surface for concrete or the likeindicated at 28 in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Each form 12 constitutes a beam that is formed as part of a trussassembly 29 which is movable supported for up and down movement betweencorresponding longitudinally spaced posts 16 by means including mountingunits 31. Each mounting unit 31 is adjustably supported on acorresponding post 16 for vertical movement between an upper positionwherein the top surfaces of the forms 12 and 13 are located in the planeof the top surf-aces 19 of the posts 16, and a lower position whereinthe top surfaces of the forms 12 and 13 are in a common horizontal planelocated below the horizontal plane of the post top surfaces 19. For amore detailed description of the knockdown frame unit 14, trussassemblies 29 and mounting 3,414,228 Patented Dec. 3, 1968 "ice units 31reference is made to the co-pending application of William A. Jennings,Ser. No. 483,587 filed Aug. 30, 1965 assigned to the same interest asthe instant application.

A connecting member 27 of this invention (FIG. 4) includes a flatupright plate member 32 the lower side of which terminates in alaterally extended reinforcing flange 33. The plate member 32 is formedwith a central portion 34 and reduced end portions 36 each of which isformed with an upright open slot 37. Each slot 37 has a bottom wall 38,an inner verticle side wall 39 formed by an adjacent end face of thecentral portion 34, and an opposite or outer side wall 41 that has alower vertical section 42 and an upper inclined section 43 extendingupwardly and outwardly from the lower vertical section 42.-

As clearly appears in FIG. 3 the center portion 34 of a connectingmember 27 is of a size and shape for reception transversely within alongitudinally extended or side metal form 12 with the end faces thereofflush against the inner surfaces of the depending flanges 22 and withthe lower edge 44 of a depending flange 22 resting on a slot bottom wall38. The reduced end portions 36 are thus projected laterally outwardlyfrom the depending flanges 22 of a side form 12. A connecting member 27is secured to a corresponding form member 12 by welding or like means asindicated at 46.

Each slot 37 is initially formed as shown in FIG. 4 with a width betweenthe vertical side wall 39 and the vertical section 42 of the side wall41 equal to the combined thicknesses of a flange 22 of the form 12 andthe flange 26 of an intermediate form 13. After the assembly of aconnecting member 27 with a longitudinally extended metal form 12 thisinitial slot width is reduced to a width substantially equal to thethickness of only the flange 26 of an intermediate form 13. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 the connecting members 27 are spaced longitudinally of acorresponding longitudinal form 12 so that at least two connectingmembers 27 are created within the transverse confines of an intermediateform 13.

To connect an intermediate form 13 with a pair of side forms 12 the form13 is positioned between the side forms 12 above the reduced endportions 36 of pairs of adjacent connecting members 27 locatedattransversely opposite sides of the frame 14 with the end flanges 26thereof adjacent corresponding side forms 12. The end flanges 26 on aform 13 are then positioned within the upper ends of the slots 37 of thetransversely opposite connecting members 27 so as to rest on theinclined wall sections 43 of the slots.

On downward movement of the form 13 as by pushing or imparting impactblows thereto the lower portions of the end flanges 26 are guidablydirected by the inclined wall sections 43 into the reduced lowerportions of the slots 37. Since these reduced lower portions of theslots 37 are substantially equal to the thickness of the end flanges 26of the form 13 they are frictionally received between the lower end ofan adjacent flange 22 of a form 12 and the lower vertical section 42 ofthe slot wall 43. This insertion of the end flanges 26 of a form 13within the reduced lower portions of the slots 37 automatically locatesthe end flanges 26 into a back-to-back relation with the adjacentflanges 22 of a form 12.

It is to be noted further that the end flanges 26 of a form 13 are equalin width to the flanges 22 of a form 12 so that concurrently with thepositioning of adjacent flanges 22 and 26 in a back-to-back relation thetop surface 23 of a form 13 is located in the horizontal plane of thetop surface 21 of a form 12.

As a result of the frictional reception of the lower end portion of aflange 26 within the reduced lower portion of a slot 37 the form 13 isfrictionally held against accidental upward movement. This frictionalholding of a form 13 within a slot 37 is complemented by the backto-backengagement of a flange 26 with the adjacent flange 22 of a form 12. Theform 13 is thus releasably locked in a position to provide for thesurfaces 21 of the flanges 12 and the top surfaces 23 of the flanges 13forming a continuous horizontal supporting area.

It is to be understood that the forms 13 are connected in a side-by-siderelation transversely between the longitudinal form members 12 so thatin the composite form assembly a continuous horizontal supportingsurface is provided over the complete area defined by the frame posts16. In use this form assembly, through the function of the mountingunits 31, is movable upwardly into the plane of the top surfaces 19 ofthe posts 16. When the forms 13 are to be removed the composite formassembly is lowered to a level below the post top surfaces 19, or thecompleted structure 28, a distance suflicient to permit the upwardremoval of the intermediate forms 13 from the connecting members 27.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferredembodiment thereof it is to be understood that it is not to be solimited since changes and modifications can be made therein which areWithin the full intended scope of this invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a shoring structure for metal concrete forms including:

(a) frame means having four corner posts with horizontal top surfaces,

(b) a pair of oppositely arranged parallel truss assemblies having tophorizontal surfaces, each truss assembly extended between andconnectable to a pair of corner posts with the top surfaces thereof inthe plane of the top surfaces of said corner posts,

(c) a plurality of transversely extended connecting members secured toeach truss assembly in a longitudinally spaced relation and below theplane of the top surface thereof,

(d) each connecting member having opposite end portions projectedlaterally outwardly from a corresponding truss assembly.

(e) each of said end portions being formed with an upright slot open atthe upper end thereof, each slot having a first vertical side wallnormal to a side edge of the top surface of a truss assembly and anopposite side wall having a lower vertical section and an upper sectioninclined away from said first side wall, and

(f) a metal for-m including a top flat surface with depending endflanges, each of said end flanges having a thickness substantially equalto a width of a slot between the vertical portions of the side wallsthereof, and a height such that when received in a slot the top surfaceof said form is in the plane of r the top surfaces of said trussassemblies,

(g) said top surface of the metal for-m having a length equal to thedistance between the top surfaces of said truss assemblies whereby onpositioning of said end flanges within transversely oppositely arrangedslots said flanges are guided by said inclined slot wall sections topositions between the vertical portions of the slots to releasably holdthe top surface of the metal form adjacent to and in the plane of thetop surfaces of said truss assemblies.

2. In a shoring structure for metal concrete forms including:

(a) a frame having a pair of longitudinally extended transversely spacedtruss assemblies with flat top surfaces in a common horizontal plane,

(b) metal forms having a flat top surface of a length equal to thetransverse space betwen said truss assemblies and depending end flanges,

() means for connecting a form to said truss assemblies with the topsurface thereof in the plane of the top surfaces of said trussassemblies including a plurality of longitudinally spaced uprightsupport members on each truss asembly, said support members extendedtransversely outwardly of a corresponding truss assembly at positionsbelow the top surfaces thereof,

(d) each of said support members having an upright slot with a firstside wall lying in a vertical plane which defines the inner side edge ofthe top surface of a truss assembly, an opposite side wall spacedoutwardly from a truss assembly having a vertical lower section and anupper section inclined upwardly and outwardly from said lower sectionand a horizontal bottom vvall, and

(e) each of said depending end flanges having a thickness substantiallyequal to the width of a slot between the vertical side wall portionstlxeregf and a width equal to the distance between the bottom wall of aslot and the top surface of a truss assembly whereby on positioning ofan end flange at the slot, the end flange is directed by the inclinedside wall portion of the slot for releasable connection with theopposite vertical side wall poition thereof in a supported position onthe slot bottom wall so that the top surface of a form and the topsurfaces of said truss assemblies form a continuous horizontal surface.

3. In a shoring structure for metal concrete forms:

(a) a frame having a pair of longitudinally extended transversely spacedside members, each side member being of a channel shape having an upperbase portion and depending leg portions, said base portions being in acommon horizontal plane,

(b) a metal form having a flat body member of a rectangular shape withlaterally extended depending end flanges, said body member having alength equal to the transverse space between said side members,

(c) means for releasably mounting said form bet-ween said side membersso that said base portions and body member form a continuous horizontalsurface, including upright plate members secured to and extendedtransversely of each side member in a longitudinally spaced relationbelow the horizontal plane of said base portions,

(d) each plate member having an end portion projected outwardly from oneof the depending leg portions of a side member, with said one legportions facing each other transversely of said frame,

(e) each of said projected end portions having an upright slot thereinopen at the top thereof and formed With a vertical side wall, ahorizontal bottom wall, and an opposite side wall including a lowervertical section and an upper section inclined upwardly and outwardlyfrom the vertical section.

(f) each slot having a width between the vertical side wall and verticalsection of the opposite side wall equal to the combined width of saidone of the depending leg portions and an end flange of said metal form,and

(-g) said one depending leg being positioned in a slot against thevertical side thereof, whereby an end flange of the form is guidablydirected by the inclined portion of said opposite side Wall into alocked position between the vertical section of the opposite side walland the free end portion of said one depending leg portion.

4. In a shoring structure for concrete metal forms:

(a) a frame having a pair of longitudinally extended transversely spacedforms having top horizontal surfaces and a depending side section, withsaid side sections facing each other,

(b) a third metal form including a horizontal flat body member of arectangular shape having a flange projected laterally from one side andat each end 5 thereof, said body member having a length equal to thetransverse space between said pair of forms,

(0) means for releasably mounting said third form between said pair offor-ms so that said horizontal top surfaces and the opposite side ofsaid body member form a continuous horizontal surface, including aplurality of flat upright transversely extended members secured to saidpair of forms and extended within the space between said pair of formsbelow the plane of the top surfaces thereof,

(d) each upright member having an upright slot including a bottom wall,a vertical side wall and an opposite side wall having a-lower verticalsection and an upper section inclined upwardly and outwardly from thelower vertical section, said vertical side wall being formed by adepending side section and said bottom wall being spaced-from the topsurfaces of said pair of forms a distance equal to the width of an endflange on said third form, and the width of the slot between thevertical side wall and the vertical section of the opposite side wallbeing substantially equal to the thickness of an end flange on saidthird form, and

(e) with an end flange being guidably directed by the inclined sectionof the opposite side wall into said slot for frictional engagementbetween the opposed vertical sections of the side walls thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,293,838 2/1919 McKay 249241,498,665 6/1924 MacIvor 24918 1,907,877 5/1933 iRoos 24928 X 3,239,1883/1966 Gostling 2491'8 X J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

D. W. JONES, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A SHORING STRUCTURE FOR METAL CONCRETE FORMS INCLUDING: (A) FRAMEMEANS HAVING FOUR CORNER POSTS WITH HORIZONTAL TOP SURFACES, (B) A PAIROF OPPOSITELY ARRANGED PARALLEL TRUSS ASSEMBLIES HAVING TOP HORIZONTALSURFACES, EACH TRUSS ASSEMBLY EXTENDED BETWEEN AND CONNECTABLE TO A PAIROF CORNER POSTS WITH THE TOP SURFACES THEREOF IN THE PLANE OF THE TOPSURFACES OF SAID CORNER POSTS, (C) A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSELY EXTENDEDCONNECTING MEMBERS SECURED TO EACH TRUSS ASSEMBLY IN A LONGITUDINALLYSPACED RELATION AND BELOW THE PLANE OF THE TOP SURFACE THEREOF, (D) EACHCONNECTING MEMBER HAVING OPPOSITE END PORTIONS PROJECTED LATERALLYOUTWARDLY FROM A CORRESPONDING TRUSS ASSEMBLY. (E) EACH OF SAID ENDPORTIONS BEING FORMED WITH AN UPRIGHT SLOT OPEN AT THE UPPER ENDTHEREOF, EACH SLOT HAVING A FIRST VERTICAL SIDE WALL NORMAL TO A SIDEEDGE OF THE TOP SURFACE OF A TRUSS ASSEMBLY AND AN OPPOSITE SIDE WALLHAVING A LOWER VERTICAL SECTION AND AN UPPER SECTION INCLINED AWAY FROMSAID FIRST SIDE WALL, AND (F) A METAL FORM INCLUDING A TOP FLAT SURFACEWITH DEPENDING END FLANGES, EACH OF SAID END FLANGES HAVING A THICKNESSSUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO A WIDTH OF A SLOT BETWEEN THE VERTICAL PORTIONSOF THE SIDE WALLS THEREOF, AND A HEIGHT SUCH THAT WHEN RECEIVED IN ASLOT THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID FORM IS IN THE PLANE OF THE TOP SURFACES OFSAID TRUSS ASSEMBLIES. (G) SAID TOP SURFACE OF THE METAL FROM HAVING ALENGTH EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TOP SURFACES OF SAID TRUSSASSEMBLIES WHEREBY ON POSITIONING OF SAID END FLANGES WITHINTRANSVERSELY OPPOSITELY ARRANGED SLOTS SAID FLANGES ARE GUIDED BY SAIDINCLINED SLOT WALL SECTIONS TO POSITIONS BETWEEN THE VERTICAL PORTIONSOF THE SLOTS TO RELEASABLY HOLD THE TOP SURFACE OF THE METAL FORMADJACENT TO AND IN THE PLANE OF THE TOP SURFACES OF SAID TRUSSASSEMBLIES.